Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking at the 17th Civil Services Day event in Delhi’s Vigyan Bhawan, emphasized the urgent need for India’s bureaucracy and policy-making to shed outdated systems and adopt forward-looking approaches. Addressing civil servants from across the country, PM Modi stated that true progress comes not from incremental changes, but from large-scale, transformative impact.
Highlighting the historic significance of the day, PM Modi noted that this year marks both the 75th anniversary of the Constitution and the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, who famously called civil servants the “Steel Frame of India” in 1947.
“A civil servant who considers service to the nation their highest duty, works democratically, and upholds values of honesty, discipline, and dedication, plays a vital role in achieving the vision of a Viksit Bharat,” the Prime Minister said.
Stressing the importance of systemic change, PM Modi said, “Since 2014, we have actively pursued reforms. The world is moving fast, and India’s policies must match that pace. We cannot afford to operate on outdated systems.”
The Prime Minister also said the work being done today will shape India’s path for the next thousand years, calling 2025 the 25th year of both the century and millennium, a milestone in itself.
PM Modi underlined the power of India’s aspirational society, with its youth, women, and farmers striving for greater opportunities and faster progress. “To meet these aspirations, our governance must be efficient and inclusive,” he asserted.
The theme of this year’s Civil Services Day — ‘Holistic Development of India’ — aligns with the government’s focus on ensuring that no citizen, family, or village is left behind. “Holistic development means clean water in every home, quality education for every child, and real, measurable impact on the ground,” he said.
PM Modi praised the progress made under the Aspirational Blocks Programme, launched in January 2023, citing examples from Rajasthan’s Peeplu block and Bihar’s Jagdishpur block, where child nutrition tracking and maternal healthcare have seen remarkable improvement. He also highlighted positive changes in Jammu and Kashmir’s Marwah block.
As part of the day’s events, the Prime Minister released two e-Coffee Table Books showcasing innovations and success stories from districts across India and conferred the Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration to recognize outstanding contributions from central, state, and district-level government bodies.
Civil Services Day commemorates Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s iconic address to administrative officers in 1947, reminding public servants to rededicate themselves to the mission of nation-building.
